Staten Island's cultural icons cheer city's $$ put-back

Advance file photoAfter Queens, Staten Island received the second-highest amount of funds from the special discretionary pool, with the Staten Island Zoo getting $100,000.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After much anxiety over steep cuts proposed in the early stages of the city's budget game, Staten Island's cultural institutions can shift their focus back to art, music, nature, history, enrichment -- and even contemplate the future.

Nearly $30 million was restored to cultural programs in the budget that the city adopted, virtually sealing the gaping hole in the city Department of Cultural Affairs' proposed budget and bringing it nearly to last year's funding level of about $130 million.

And four of the Island's most recognizable cultural centers received an additional boost from the City Council -- a total of $250,000 out of a $1 million citywide supplemental fund, to use as they choose.

"Perhaps your finest moment was how you helped us help the cultural institutions of our borough," City Councilmen James Oddo (R-Mid Island/Brooklyn) and Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) wrote in a letter of appreciation to Council Finance and Cultural Chair -- and fellow member of the budget negotiating team -- Domenic M. Recchia Jr. (D-Brooklyn).

Crediting a report in the Advance last month for highlighting the plight of the borough's cultural centers, Oddo noted, "I think Staten Island did exceedingly well."

After Queens, the borough received the second-highest amount of funds from the special discretionary pool, with the Staten Island Zoo getting $100,000; Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden $70,000; the Staten Island Historical Society at Richmond Town $40,000, and the Staten Island Children's Museum $40,000.

This on top of the news that operating budgets from the city were also restored by roughly 98 percent for the institutions.

Still, there is no guarantee that some of that funding will not be yanked by the city at some point during the year, as it was in April.

"We're going to direct it toward out development and marketing department because through increased development and marketing we'll bring more people to the Zoo," said Kenneth Mitchell, the Zoo's interim executive director. "It's an investment in the future of the Zoo and that's where we're going to direct it."

Lynn Kelly, president and chief executive officer of Snug Harbor, said that with the infusion of cash, Snug Harbor can focus on growing stronger.

"My whole team knows we still have to run a lean operation and be smart about our business choices and squirrel some money away in the event of future cuts," she said.

After paying down some debt and getting the fiscal house in order, she said priority will be given to education and volunteer programming.

"We would be able to offer more classes, tours, classes in the galleries, keep our galleries open later," she mused. "The takeaway is we're really happy." This is the first time in recent memory Snug Harbor had received such an allocation, she said.

The supplemental pool has been in existence for the past several years, said Recchia. But this year, Staten Island institutions were indeed blessed.

"This is for institutions that might need a little bit of help. Places like the Met can raise millions of dollars privately, but the institutions of Staten Island don't have that yet," he said. "What Lincoln Center is to Manhattan, Snug Harbor can be for Staten Island -- and I think it's on the way."